Beowulf Page #3

Beowulf is an Old English epic poem consisting of 3,182 alliterative lines. It is one of the most important works of Old English literature. The date of composition is a matter of contention among scholars; the only certain dating pertains to the manuscript, which was produced between 975 and 1025.

• Poetry

								


~Eofor~.--A Geatish hero who slays Ongentheow in war, and is rewarded by Hygelac with the hand of his only daughter.--4118; 4148.

~Eormenric~.--A Gothic king, from whom Hama took away the famous Brosinga mene.--199.

~Eomær~.--Son of Offa and Thrytho, king and queen of the Angles.--2869.

~Finn~.--King of the North-Frisians and the Jutes. Marries Hildeburg. At his court takes place the horrible slaughter in which the Danish general, Hnæf, fell. Later on, Finn himself is slain by Danish warriors.--1718; 1730; 1744; 184; 1823.

~Fin-land~.--The country to which Beowulf was driven by the currents in his swimming-match.--1022.

~Fitela~.--Son and nephew of King Sigemund, whose praises are sung in XIV.--1442; 1453.

~Folcwalda~.--Father of Finn.--1738.

~Franks~.--Introduced occasionally in referring to the death of Higelac.--1919; 4021; 4024.

~Frisians~.--A part of them are ruled by Finn. Some of them were engaged in the struggle in which Higelac was slain.--1720; 1742; 1752; 4021.

~Freaware~.--Daughter of King Hrothgar. Married to Ingeld, a Heathobard prince.--2960; 3032.

~Froda~.--King of the Heathobards, and father of Ingeld.--2962.

~Garmund~.--Father of Offa.--2871.

~Geats, Geatmen~.--The race to which the hero of the poem belongs. Also called Weder-Geats, or Weders, War-Geats, Sea-Geats. They are ruled by Hrethel, Hæthcyn, Higelac, and Beowulf.--47; 74; 1045; 118; 2714; 288.

~Gepids~.--Named in connection with the Danes and Swedes.--3534.

~Grendel~.--A monster of the race of Cain. Dwells in the fens and moors. Is furiously envious when he hears sounds of joy in Hrothgar's palace. Causes the king untold agony for years. Is finally conquered by Beowulf, and dies of his wound. His hand and arm are hung up in Hrothgar's hall Heorot. His head is cut off by Beowulf when he goes down to fight with Grendel's mother.--250; 31; 313; 819; 1117; 122; 1327; 153.

~Guthlaf~.--A Dane of Hnæf's party.--1824.

~Half-Danes~.--Branch of the Danes to which Hnæf belonged.--1719.

[xv]

~Halga~.--Surnamed the Good. Younger brother of Hrothgar.--29.

~Hama~.--Takes the Brosinga mene from Eormenric.--197.

~Hæreth~.--Father of Higelac's queen, Hygd.--2839; 2918.

~Hæthcyn~.--Son of Hrethel and brother of Higelac. Kills his brother Herebeald accidentally. Is slain at Ravenswood, fighting against Ongentheow.--3443; 3523; 4032.

~Helmings~.--The race to which Queen Wealhtheow belonged.--1063.

~Heming~.--A kinsman of Garmund, perhaps nephew.--2854; 2870.

~Hengest~.--A Danish leader. Takes command on the fall of Hnæf.--1733; 1741.

~Herebeald~.--Eldest son of Hrethel, the Geatish king, and brother of Higelac. Killed by his younger brother Hæthcyn.--3443; 3447.

~Heremod~.--A Danish king of a dynasty before the Scylding line. Was a source of great sorrow to his people.--1464; 2559.

~Hereric~.--Referred to as uncle of Heardred, but otherwise unknown.--3160.

~Hetwars~.--Another name for the Franks.--3351.

~Healfdene~.--Grandson of Scyld and father of Hrothgar. Ruled the Danes long and well.--25; 41; 814.

~Heardred~.--Son of Higelac and Hygd, king and queen of the Geats. Succeeds his father, with Beowulf as regent. Is slain by the sons of Ohthere.--3156; 3363; 3375.

~Heathobards~.--Race of Lombards, of which Froda is king. After Froda falls in battle with the Danes, Ingeld, his son, marries Hrothgar's daughter, Freaware, in order to heal the feud.--301; 306.

~Heatholaf~.--A Wylfing warrior slain by Beowulf's father.--85.

~Heathoremes~.--The people on whose shores Breca is cast by the waves during his contest with Beowulf.--921.

~Heorogar~.--Elder brother of Hrothgar, and surnamed 'Weoroda Ræswa,' Prince of the Troopers.--29; 812.

~Hereward~.--Son of the above.--3117.

~Heort~, ~Heorot~.--The great mead-hall which King Hrothgar builds. It is invaded by Grendel for twelve years. Finally cleansed by Beowulf, the Geat. It is called Heort on account of the hart-antlers which decorate it.--225; 332; 352.

~Hildeburg~.--Wife of Finn, daughter of Hoce, and related to Hnæf,--probably his sister.--1721; 1834.

~Hnæf~.--Leader of a branch of the Danes called Half-Danes. Killed in the struggle at Finn's castle.--1719; 1761.

~Hondscio~.--One of Beowulf's companions. Killed by Grendel just before Beowulf grappled with that monster.--3043.

~Hoce~.--Father of Hildeburg and probably of Hnæf.--1726.

~Hrethel~.--King of the Geats, father of Higelac, and grandfather of Beowulf.--74; 3439.

~Hrethla~.--Once used for Hrethel.--782.

~Hrethmen~.--Another name for the Danes.--773.

~Hrethric~.--Son of Hrothgar.--1865; 2719.

[xvi]

~Hreosna-beorh~.--A promontory in Geat-land, near which Ohthere's sons made plundering raids.--3518.

~Hrothgar~.--The Danish king who built the hall Heort, but was long unable to enjoy it on account of Grendel's persecutions. Marries Wealhtheow, a Helming lady. Has two sons and a daughter. Is a typical Teutonic king, lavish of gifts. A devoted liegelord, as his lamentations over slain liegemen prove. Also very appreciative of kindness, as is shown by his loving gratitude to Beowulf.--29; 212; 41; 810; 151; etc., etc.

~Hrothmund~.--Son of Hrothgar.--1865.

~Hrothulf~.--Probably a son of Halga, younger brother of Hrothgar. Certainly on terms of close intimacy in Hrothgar's palace.--1626; 1857.

~Hrunting~.--Unferth's sword, lent to Beowulf.--2271; 259.

~Hugs~.--A race in alliance with the Franks and Frisians at the time of Higelac's fall.--3541.

~Hun~.--A Frisian warrior, probably general of the Hetwars. Gives Hengest a beautiful sword.--1819.

~Hunferth~.--Sometimes used for Unferth.

~Hygelac~, ~Higelac~.--King of the Geats, uncle and liegelord of Beowulf, the hero of the poem.--His second wife is the lovely Hygd, daughter of Hæreth. The son of their union is Heardred. Is slain in a war with the Hugs, Franks, and Frisians combined. Beowulf is regent, and afterwards king of the Geats.--46; 54; 2834; 299; 2921; 3156.

~Hygd~.--Wife of Higelac, and daughter of Hæreth. There are some indications that she married Beowulf after she became a widow.--2837.

~Ingeld~.--Son of the Heathobard king, Froda. Marries Hrothgar's daughter, Freaware, in order to reconcile the two peoples.--2962; 3032.

~Ingwins~.--Another name for the Danes.--1652; 2069.

~Jutes~.--Name sometimes applied to Finn's people.--1722; 1738; 1817.

~Lafing~.--Name of a famous sword presented to Hengest by Hun.--1819.

~Merewing~.--A Frankish king, probably engaged in the war in which Higelac was slain.--4029.

~Nægling~.--Beowulf's sword.--3676.

~Offa~.--King of the Angles, and son of Garmund. Marries the terrible Thrytho who is so strongly contrasted with Hygd.--2859; 2866.

~Ohthere~.--Son of Ongentheow, king of the Swedes. He is father of Eanmund and Eadgils.--4035; 40_39.
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